This magnificent building with a monumental feature has been named after Tünel. Following the completion of tunnel construction, the area in front of the structure has been called Tünel Square.

Metrohan is the building, built on lot No. 4 on which Beyoğlu station of Tünel which provides the transportation between Galata and Beyoğlu is located, between Erkân-ı Harp Street and First Municipal Street in Beyoğlu district.This magnificent building with a monumental feature has been named after Tünel. Following the completion of tunnel construction, the area in front of the structure has been called Tünel Square.Tünel’s design and construction engineer, Eugene Henry Gavand has published a study on İstanbul Tünel. In this study, published in Paris in 1876, in addition to 44-page text on the construction of Tünel, Tünel route, buildings and machinery drawings were included. According to the Tünel project drawings of Gavand, the station building on Beyoğlu side was a 4-storey building including the ground floor. On the 5th floor, forming the terrace, a small hut and a two-storey tower was located. However, these drawings showed that Gavand planned top floors of the station building as a hotel.According to the Gavand’s project, entry and exit to Tünel would be through a round-arched 6 gates.

Next to these gates, another double-leaf door would allow entry to the station building or the hotel. On the first floor, there was a balcony with iron railings made in the style of art nouveau. The exits to this balcony would be through double-leaf doors.

There are 14 doors in the front and 10 doors on the side, where Tünel entry is located. On the third floor, everything is the same except rectangle doors. On the fourth and fifth floor, only windows are available.This project could not be realized except the ground floor. From 1874 until 1914, information on whereabouts of the Tünel company management is not available. They were distributed to rented and separate rooms in various buildings. To bring management rooms together has been realized in 1914, according to the project prepared in 1912.

Current situation of Metrohan has been realized according to the projects, dated November 15, 1912 and March 12, 1913. Those projects are drawn in Charleoi, Belgium and they are still in İETT archives. Metrohan did not deviate from the plans and projects, dated 1912 and 1913. As seen in the construction project, it has been built as a 6-storey building, including the ground floor. 7th floor was built in 1930’s.Metro Han, which has a rectangular plan, has an entrance on Erkân-ı Harp Street, that can be considered as the building’s facade. He building was constructed using steel construction method and marble was used on the floors and stairs. The iron railings have decorations in art nouveau style. The building has an elevator as well.Never underwent the building to renovation and restoration, the original plan is still applicable. Some stairs in the plan were canceled and some wall are removed to expand the existing spaces.On the other hand, a barrel vault-shaped structure on the top floor, that can be considered as an aesthetic element, was never realized Today, Metro Han is used to accommodate İETT’s administrative units.